The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-03-31


school was largely attended. Jno. L. Ray,
Esq, Corresponding Secretary of the Bap-
fist State Convention, and Secretary of the
State Suaday-school Board was conductor.
Practical questions concerning the Sun
day-school work were discussed by promi-
nent laymen who are also earnest chris
tan workers.
GA Saturday excursions were brought
from nearly every direction, and on that
day there were probably 200 visitors to the
Institute from other places. Probably the
most Interesting exercise of that day was
an exempiihcation of the primary class
work by 100 members of the infant class, of
the 1st Baptist school of Raleigh, under the
direction of Hon. and Mrs. w. ii. Dodd,
who have had that class in charge for
twenty-five years. The vast audience that
entirely filled BurwelI Hall was aston
ished and delighted.
Rev. r. 7. Vann and Dr. Geo. W Manly
remained over Sunday and filled the Bap-
fist pulpit.
We noticed among those attending this
Institute, Prof. f. F. Hobgood, President
Of Oxford Female College; Profs. Poteat
and Manly, of Wake Forest College; Prof
E. Z. Moses, Supt, of the Raleigh Graded
Schools; Revs. j. l.. White, J. S. Harda-
way, I. J. Taylor, J. S. Purefoy and r. L.
Vann; Hon. G. NJ. Cooke, Hon. w. ii.
Dodd, \. b. Broughton, Esq, Gel. J. NJ.
Heck, E. e. Harrell, Esq, Capt. n. l..
Shaw, ". II. Pace, Esq, Z. w Timber
lake, Esq, and others equally prominent
among the Sunday-school workers of the
State, including large number of ladies
We are requested on behalf of the Bap-
fist Sunday-school and its Committee of
Entertainment to return their acknowledge
ments to the citizens of Henderson for their
hearty cooperation in providing entertain
ment for their visitors. More homes were
offered than could possibly be occupied,
and the Committee had no difficulty what
ever in providing for every want.
The local pastors and workers were invi-
ted to take part in the exercises of the Iii
stitute and contributed their portion to the
success of the meeting.
Below we give an extended account writ
ten by Rev. G. S. Farris, and copied from
the biblical Recorder:
The Convention was an epoch marker.
1t was the first of a series that are to be
held all through the State. Greater inter-
est III the Sunday-schOOl work is the aim.
That mine is to be thoroughly worked
Among the objects to be attained are a Sun
day-schoOl in every church and destitute
neighbOrhood; more efficient teachers; more
efficient schools; better circulation of
I-ft tiara ft,f
Some years ago the Sunday-school was
stimulated through the State, and it set on
fire all our denOminatiOnal enterprises
Everything Baptistic began to thrive. 1t
WAS like the coming of the warm summer
sun after winter of frost and freeze and
snow. That which distinguishes the Mis-
sionary Baptists from our Kehukee friends,
has i'll 1t Vivifying force. The poetic just
ness of the Sunday-school idea is seen in
the rapid decay of the Kehukee organiZa-
ton which desplses it, and the rapid growth
OF the missionary organization which fos-
ters it: Even very stupid church without
a Sunday-schOol can appreciate that. We
trust every one may. The Kehukee prin-
cipIe is an overhanging rock which must
fail and crush to death whatever is beneath
it. Only in that respect is the principle de-
siTable. But While this principle has not
grown among rs, there has not been that
rapid growth i'll the Sunday-school work
hence these Institutes or conventions.
The Henderson Convention opened on
Thursday evening with an address by the
Secretary of the Baptist State Convention.
Friday the meetings were thinly attended,
except the one at night which Overlooked
There were some earnest, sensible speeches
during the day. Among the speakers were !:
President f. +. Hobgood, j. e. Ray, Col.
j. N. Heck, L. NJ. Pittman, Rev. j. L..
White, Rev. j. S. Purefoy, n. b. Brough-
ton, Rev. }. S. Hardaway, and Prof w. L.
Poteat. Though this Friday meeting was
make it interesting. Its paQele and spirit
made it sparkle. B0n-m0ts were abundant.
Every one was in the best of humor, but
after it was all over we saw several breth-
rem leaving with only hanifuls of hair.
But the grand climax was Saturday.
time. The other days Of the Convention
assembled to and descended from this the
grandest day. We will not say here whether
this was good plan, but we do say that
our SOULS pity is for free gift to the man
who may be found to say he was not
charmed with Saturday. TIE most graphic
account could not bring the scene before the
reader as it was. Some of us had assem-
bled in the church, in the morning at 10
O'Clock, where we heard three capital
speeches, from Rev. j. 5. Hardaway, Rev
J. d. Arnold and Capt. n. l.. Shaw. But
we paid we'll for it. When we arrived at
the Burwell Opera House, the Raleigh
Wake Forest-Frank linton-Louisburg- Kit
treIl excursion train had emptied twelve
hundred people into it. AS IN the light
brigade's charge, some one bad blunder-
ed" The church-goers had been promised
a fair chance at the seats. However, the
faithful chinked themselves into all the
impossible seats, and made themselves as
comfortable as they might. This brother
secured place Oh the gallery railing, at
the imminent risk of those underneath.
But he was fortunate. There were others
considerably nearer the ceiling. with
bench backs as their foot stools, while they
helped nightly to support the walls at
their backs.
On the rostrum We're, Col. Heck, Presi-
dent of the Sunday-school Board; John E
Ray, Corresponding Secretary; E. q. Har-
rell, Superintendent of the First Baptist
Sunday-school, Raleigh; Hon. w. II. DOdd,
and wife having charge of hundred
or more of their infant class. On the left
of the rostrum was the hoy chcir' of the
First School, led in their singing by two
comets and a piano. Brother DOdd, as
sisted by his wife at the organ, then pro-
cecded to give the audience an object les
son in infant class work. For more than
an hour, the Little folks" entertained the
crowd. AS their sweet voices t1oated
through the large auditorium, the attention
paid them was remarkable, considering the
Sardine style in which the audience was
packed together. The climax of the meet
! ing was reached IN Pattie Mornings solos
! and William Ruffin PAGES speech. The
/ latter was introduced by the President OF
/ the Sunday-school Board. Certainly, the
people who went to Henderson will never
/ forget brother and sister DOdd and their
infant class. A brother said to the writer
/ Il went 10 Henderson TO get instruction ii
! the work. and | was not disappointed.
| Saturday afternoon. brother Z. T. Moses